McCloughan Fallout

I’m surprised at the adverse reaction to the Scot McCloughan interview (Friday 1-19). He might not be the best speaker, and I’m not the best interviewer, but McCloughan has been the best hire the 49ers have made over the last three years. Just because the guy says “dang” doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to evaluate.

Even though the 5-11 season was a crushing disappointment, there’s no question that McCloughan and Mike Nolan have greatly improved the team’s talent since they were both hired three years ago. One opposing coach said, after his team played the 49ers in 2004, that the 49ers were five years away from rebuilding the team.

Not only did McCloughan and Nolan inherit the most talent-less team in the league by probably a large margin, they also had to go through a process of getting rid of players before they could build back up. In two years, most experts had the 49ers in the middle of the league talent-wise. One league scout, who does a talent power rating every year, had San Francisco as the 14th most talented.

Footballoutsiders.com, which bases their talent analysis on an elaborate evaluation formula, believed the 49ers would win eight to nine games this year and would capture the NFC West.

The 49ers’ special teams performed at a playoff level. The defense was certainly good enough to get the team to eight wins. As we all know, the offense failed utterly.

The team could have realized its preseason promise if not for the inexplicable poor play of the offensive line early in the season and the drama at quarterback. As Steve Young has said repeatedly, it’s all about the quarterback. If the Patriots were down to their second, third and fourth quarterback, they probably would have been a .500 team.

Here’s a quick look at the draft classes of Scot McCloughan:

2005

1st round:. Alex Smith QB, Utah: McCloughan, pushed to draft Smith more than anyone else. Smith was undoubtedly ascending before this year, when injuries and controversy doomed him. Smith will need to win back some teammates after challenging Nolan publicly about the wisdom of continuing to play him when he was injured. Some believe Smith will never make it, that he doesn’t have the accuracy or the makeup. GRADE: Incomplete.

2nd round: David Baas G, Michigan: Is it a coincidence that the offensive-line play picked up when Baas replaced the injured Justin Smiley? This year, he definitely began to fulfill his second-round promise. GRADE: B- but rising.

3. Frank Gore RB, Miami: McCloughan was talking about Gore when he mentioned passionate players who become stars. Gore’s the best pick of the McCloughan era: Grade: A

3. Adam Snyder G-T, Oregon: He has proven he belongs as either a guard or a tackle. He might not have the long arms needed for the tackle spot, but he certainly has the power and the size for guard. Grade: B+

5. Ronald Fields DE, Mississippi State: A fifth-round choice is supposed to last a few years and then fade. Fields is doing the opposite. He’s perfect for the 3-4 – a big grinding player who plays the run well. GRADE: B+

5. Rasheed Marshall WR, West Virginia: The former quarterback never caught on to the scheme. The NFL was too big for him. He balances out Fields. Grade: D

5. Derrick Johnson CB, Washington: Played in 14 games as a rookie, then was released when the 49ers improved their secondary talent. He bounced around playing with the Texans, Falcons and Dolphins. GRADE: C

7. Daven Holly CB, Cincinnati: Didn’t survive his first training camp with the 49ers, has since played in Cincinnati, and played extensively in Cleveland this year. He has turned out to be a good pick, the 49ers could have used him. GRADE: B+

7. Marcus Maxwell WR, Oregon: Long, lean receiver played well in the final season at NFL Europa, then landed in Cincinnati. Not a bad seventh-rounder. GRADE: B

7. Patrick Estes T, Virginia: Still hanging on the practice squad and the active roster as the former TE attempts to learn a tough position. GRADE: C

1. Vernon Davis TE, Maryland: He has so much talent, but needs to really concentrate on learning the playbook. He still needs to mature. GRADE: Incomplete

1. Manny Lawson OLB, North Carolina State: He looked like he was on the verge of a big season, when he blew out his knee in September. GRADE: B and rising.

3. Brandon Williams WR, Wisconsin: Biggest mistake of the McCloughan era. The quick wide receiver wasn’t focused and never panned out. He was released last year. GRADE: D-

4. Michael Robinson RB, Penn State: He was the team’s best special teams player this year, and new offensive coordinator Mike Martz could tap him as an offensive asset. GRADE: B+

5. Parys Haralson OLB, Tennessee: Excellent spot player and special teams performer. He’s probably never going to develop into a top-flight pass rusher, but he has value, particularly for a fifth-round choice. GRADE: B+

6. Delanie Walker TE, Central Missouri State: He really caught on late in the season, and he provides matchup problems for a defense. An excellent late round pick: A-.

6.

Marcus Hudson CB, North Carolina State: The secondary didn’t play as well after a November knee injury sidelined him for the season. Another spot player, who provides the defense with another option. GRADE: B+

6. Melvin Oliver DE LSU: Started as a rookie and then blew out his knee early in training camp. He’s another functional player. GRADE: B+

7. Vickiel Vaughn S Arkansas: Never made it. GRADE: C-

2007 Draft

1. Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss: Some argue this was an easy pick. But if the Redskins, Falcons, Texans and Dolphins knew how good he was, they probably would have picked him before LeRon Landry, Jamaal Anderson, Amobi Okoye and Ted Ginn Jr. It’s rare to draft a Pro Bowl player as a rookie. GRADE: A

1. Joe Staley T, Central Michigan: He struggled against Michael Strahan but played pretty well in his first year as a tackle, which is also rare. Martz loves him, and he’s ticketed for the crucial left tackle spot next year. The 49ers gave up their 7th overall choice to get him, but if he continues to develop, it’s worth it. GRADE: B

Only eight players drafted since 2005 have made the Pro Bowl and two (Frank Gore and Patrick Willis) are 49ers. The three drafts have netted nine starters. Where McCloughan, Nolan and the personnel department have failed is at wide receiver, and possibly quarterback if Smith doesn’t develop.

At receiver, the team drafted four players (see above), signed two (Antonio Bryant, Ashley Lelie) traded for one (Darrell Jackson) and as yet, none have been a number one option.

The 49ers hired Mark Uyeyama, who had been at Utah State as their assistant strength and conditioning coach.